Landscape Photography Tips 2

Landscape Photography Tips 7: Slow Down!

This is the second article which I hope will give you some quick ideas and demonstrate that great shots are near to hand - always.

Shots like the one below are totally captivating and not that difficult to make if you are patient. The photo was taken with a Nikon D70 at f/22 with a 5 second exposure.

With such a small aperture, you get a large depth-of-field but the long exposure was needed to compensate and to give the water that nice soft blur. Five seconds is quite long though and with a larger aperture such as f5.6 or so you could try a shutter speed of 1/30 second as a starting point and gradually dial it down.

Bracket your shots, manually if your camera doesn't have a setting for it, and adjust the settings until you get the fairy-land quality you are looking for. And don't forget to use a tripod or balance your camera on a rock. With really slow shutter speeds you will get unacceptable blur in the surroundings if the camera is hand-held.

Above: Plitvicka Lakes by Roman Bonnefoy

Landscape Photography Tips 8: Look for Rhythm

In the next shot, the rhythm of the posts is echoed by the rhythm of the shadows. In fact, the shadows have been graphically cut in two by the water's edge so we have three sets of repeating rhythms creating a simple, but powerful composition. The perspective also enhances the composition and we are irresistibly drawn into the picture.

Look for rhythmic patterns when you are out and about and see if you can take a shot that is almost entirely made up of rhythm only.

Above: Cramond Causeway by George Gastin

Landscape Photography Tips 9: Look Up!

Minimize the amount of land in your shot by placing the horizon very low down, and aim to photograph a beautiful sky. Clouds are fascinating but because they change so quickly you may have to prepare in advance for the shot. I usually want to make cloud shots when I am driving - not ideal!

Above: Clouds Over Mauna Loa by Mila Zinkova

Landscape Photography Tips 10: Ride Out the Storm

Open the window wide next time there is thunder and lightning about. Long exposures are required for lightning shots; the image below had a 2 second exposure and an ISO of 50 at f/2.8. Start off using roughly these settings and experiment - always experiment! And don't forget to use a tripod and the self-timer to avoid camera shake.

Above: Lightning by Hansueli Krapf

Landscape Photo Tips 11: Close the Gate - Then Shoot

If you are out walking where there are animals, you probably already know to close the gate behind you but after you have done so, take another look at it. Gates often have an individual character of their own and make a good focal point for your composition.

I like the shot below because it has been taken in black and white which has brought out all the contrasting textures of the grass, stones and wood. I also like the way the fence and gate make a gentle undulating shape which is echoed by the hills in the distance.

Above: A Landscape View of a Gate by the A701 Road from Edinburgh, Scotland by George Gastin

Landscape Photo Tips 12: Buy Good Shoes

The last of the photographs will hopefully inspire you to get your walking shoes on and get out there. There are amazing landscape shots to be made with just a little bit of effort.

The shot below was taken with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi, at 1/640 sec, f/10, ISO 100, and a focal length of 19 mm.

Follow the link if you would like to read the first article on Landscape Photography Tips where you will also find links to some famous landscape photographers such as Carleton Watkins, Ansel Adams, William Henry Jackson and Fay Godwin.

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